News | HISTORY

When John Adams Signed a Law to Authorize Deportations and Jail Critics

The 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts called for deportation of people from ‘hostile’ nations and made it a crime to criticize the government.

Why Are There 19 Statues in the Korean War Memorial?

The 19 steel statues in the Korean War Memorial represent both a literal, and symbolic tribute to those who fought in ‘America’s Forgotten War.’

Hurricane Science: Key Advances in Tracking the Deadly Storms

The first recorded hurricane forecast was issued by a Jesuit priest in 1875. A series of critical tools have since refined the science.

The Army General Who Invented Muzak

Eisenhower installed ‘elevator music’ in the White House and NASA used it in astronaut training, but its inventor came up with many other, more impactful inventions in his lifetime.

How the Empire State Building Was Built in Record Time

Workers completed the 102‑story, Art Deco‑style landmark in an astonishing one year and 45 days.

How President Grover Cleveland Won Two Non‑Consecutive Terms

President Cleveland lost his first reelection bid in 1888—then returned four years later to win back the White House.

7 ‘October Surprises’ That Disrupted US Presidential Elections

When scandalous news emerged in the final weeks of these presidential campaigns, election outcomes were at stake.

Why (and How) Engineers Drained Niagara Falls in 1969

For five months in 1969, water flowing to the New York side of Niagara Falls was diverted, leaving a 100‑foot‑high dry cliff.

When Were Seat Belts Invented?

Seat belts came in simpler designs before safety concerns drove innovation, leading to the three‑point version that is standard today.

The Richter Scale’s California Origins

Charles Richter worked with Beno Gutenberg to develop one of the first data‑driven ways of comparing earthquakes.

When the 1824 Presidential Election Ended in an Electoral Tie, Controversy Ensued

After the tied election went to the House of Representatives, an anonymous letter accused two of the candidates of making a ‘corrupt bargain.’

Horrific Fate of Officer in Doomed Arctic Expedition Revealed

What happened to the crew of the Franklin expedition remains unclear, but cannibalized remains were identified as belonging to third‑in‑command James Fitzjames.